The following morning, Orion found himself comfortably seated inside the luxurious obsidian carriage, gently rolling on the smoothly paved road toward Thunderpeak Royal Academy.
Bright morning sunlight streamed gently through the carriage’s silk-curtained windows, casting a soft, warm glow over the plush, cushioned interior.
Orion reclined leisurely against the velvet-lined seat, a relaxed and calm expression on his face as he quietly chatted with Lumi, planning out his day ahead.
[Master, have you decided what you want to do first when we get to the academy today? (๑•ᴗ•๑)]
Orion thoughtfully nodded, his gaze turning contemplative as he looked out the window at the passing scenery—the bustling city streets slowly transitioning to the quieter avenues leading toward the academy grounds.
’As usual, I will first go to check on Arya and Emilia,’ he mused quietly, fingers gently tapping against his thigh as he spoke. ’It’s been about a week since we last met. Let’s see how they’ve progressed in this time.’
[Great idea! Arya and Emilia would definitely have been training hard too, especially due to the pressure that is upon them as heirs of noble and royal houses. And Arya would probably be eager to chat with you again. (≧∇≦)]
Orion chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. ’Indeed, it’s a shame how much pressure is upon those girls. But that will also help to push them forward. I’ll talk to them first and catch up properly before doing anything else.’
He paused briefly, his mind clearly visualizing the day’s schedule. ’Afterwards, we’ll head straight for the Tower of Myths again. It’s been a while since I last challenged it. Testing my improvements in combat there should be interesting.’
[Lumi can’t wait to see that! You’ll definitely go much higher now with your newly mastered spells and improved swordsmanship! You will surprise everyone again! (•̀ᴗ•́)و]
Orion chuckled hearing her relentless praise. ’Well, we’ll see. I hope to gain some more insight into my sword skills as well. The tower is the perfect environment for this kind of practical experience, especially against skilled echoes of past students.’
The carriage slowly came to a halt outside the academy’s entrance. Edgar opened the carriage gate as he gracefully stepped down, the chatter from the surroundings intensifying.
Turning briefly back toward the carriage, Orion smiled warmly at Edgar and Lucan.
"Thank you both. I’ll be back later."
Edgar smiled warmly. "It’s been a while since you came to the academy, Young Master."
Lucan yawned dramatically, chuckling softly. "Don’t shock the whole academy on your first day after returning—some teachers might die from shock."
Orion shook his head slightly, smiling in amusement before turning and striding confidently toward the academy’s gates.
After gaining entry and walking inside, he saw the scene hadn’t changed at all. Students still chatted animatedly while walking around in groups.
Walking deeper into the academy, Orion took his time, leisurely observing the lively environment around him.
With a gentle smile, Orion swiftly navigated the familiar pathways, effortlessly blending into the morning rush of students.
His presence drew subtle yet curious glances—whispers and gazes quietly followed him as he moved. After his last Tower climbing feat, people couldn’t stop discussing him wherever he went.
Ignoring the attention, Orion soon arrived at the usual gathering spot of their group—the serene garden. At the center stood the beautiful and large cherry blossom tree, dropping leaves in the surroundings.
However, this morning the garden appeared surprisingly empty, the peaceful scene noticeably lacking the familiar presence of Arya and Emilia.
Pausing beneath the cherry blossom tree, Orion glanced around thoughtfully, eyebrows gently furrowing.
’Hm, it’s strange,’ he murmured softly to himself, his gaze carefully scanning the area. ’Arya and Emilia usually spend mornings here. Perhaps they left early for their classes?’
Lumi chimed softly, her voice bright and reassuring within his mind.
[That’s quite possible, Master. They might’ve been busy preparing to secretly surpass you! We can catch them later though. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
Orion chuckled softly in amusement. ’Well, you might be right. Let’s check on them later then. For now, heading straight to the Tower of Myths seems best.’
[Sounds like a great plan, Master! I’m excited to see your improvements after all the recent intense training! (≧◡≦)]
Nodding his head with a smile, Orion turned away from the garden, heading straight towards the Tower.
The tower soon came into view as he took a few turns from the main building and training grounds.
Students gathered near its entrance, excitedly discussing their previous attempts or preparing themselves mentally for the challenges inside.
Outside the tower’s grand entrance, a familiar reclining chair had been placed leisurely beneath a large shade-providing tree.
Resting comfortably upon it was Instructor Viren, his casual demeanor unchanged from Orion’s previous encounter.
Viren relaxed languidly, his gaze drifting lazily across the approaching students with a faint smile, clearly enjoying the peaceful morning ambiance.
Upon noticing Orion approaching, Instructor Viren slowly sat up straight, eyebrows rising mildly in surprise seeing him in such a good condition.
"Well, if it isn’t the little monster of our academy, Orion," Viren said with a chuckle while nodding lightly in greeting. "Looks like you’ve been healing properly."
Orion smiled politely, inclining his head in respect. "Thanks for the last time, Instructor Viren. I heard my Grandpa was quite... harsh on you. I apologize for him."
Viren waved his hand dismissively. "Haha, what are you saying, Young Helstorm? He wasn’t harsh or anything. I can understand his reaction. And I went to your estate knowing what could have happened. So you don’t need to apologize. Anyways, what are you here for? Challenge the tower again?"
Orion smiled in relief. "Yes, Instructor. I’ve made some progress and I wish to see how far I can go."
Instructor Viren calmly nodded his head. "It’s a good thing you have such an attitude for training, young man. However, I must warn you, now that you’ve reached the Third Tier in both paths, the difficulty will greatly rise as the tower will match the Echoes to your level."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "Will they be Third Tier in both Mana and Body paths as well?"
Viren smirked. "Of course. Otherwise, how could it be the Tower of Trials? Wouldn’t people like you just clear the whole damn thing?"
Orion’s lips twitched. "But I achieved this with my hard work. It’s not like I’m getting an unfair advantage due to my family or something."
Viren chuckled and shook his head. "This tower is supposed to be the training ground before the ranking tower. You shouldn’t look at it with the mindset of ranking higher, but instead treat it as your best training partner. After all, how many such towers do you think exist throughout the kingdom?"
"...Only this one," Orion exhaled and admitted.
"Yes," Viren nodded his head proudly, but his voice turned disappointed as he continued. "People in the outside world would fight for a chance to enter this tower so they can improve themselves. While the brats here only treat it as a ranking board."
He heaved a sigh and agreed. "I know, but I was never after the rankings. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stopped at the 50th floor. But this just got a lot more interesting. Will the mages have physical combat experience and the warriors have spells?"
Viren shook his head. "Haha, no. They will only have enhanced physical defense and reaction time, while the warriors will have more mana reserves for executing their techniques."
’Mana Techniques... I need to learn more about this.’ His eyes lit up as he learned about the new thing.
They chatted for a bit longer before Orion prepared himself to enter the tower. "Then I will head inside the tower." He bowed a little to show respect before heading toward the tower.
Viren looked at his fading back with an interested gaze before he started looking around. ’Alright, now let’s see who’s up for some small gambling.’